*OFFICIAL* "All Powerful" M15x Owners Lounge - Part 4

To the m15x owners here, how is SC2 running on your setup? I'm thinking about pulling the trigger on a m15x over the m11x so that it lasts me a bit longer.

Looking to build one with the i7 740, 4gb ram, ATI 5850... how well would the game run on that setup with the 900p display?

Thanks guys.

 

thats a very nice setup. it would run most games at highest max no problem.


man, my razer mamba just took a dump on me, time for a new mouse, thinking of getting this one:

eCOST.com - Mad Catz Cyborg R.A.T 7 Gaming Mouse - CCB437080002/04/1

anyone tried this yet?

 

wow awesome looking mouse inap id buy it but i have a mouse already.

 

yeah it looks good, i like how you can customize the size to fit your hand. propbably gonna get it.

 

that's a nice feature bro all the more reason to have it.

 

Ok, off to get powned in SCII, first time playing online.. wish me luck

 

Man this mouse looks scary O_O
But I ready its very good And the price is great comparing with Razer products..!

 

man probablt have to go exchange my copy of sc2 for the mouse, need the mouse more than the game right now, heheheh so poor.

 

It runs well...but maybe I was expecting a little more from the m15x, I'm a little disappointed with the performance in SCII.

My 2 year old desktop can run it on ULTRA settings, at a full-HD rez without a single drop below 60fps, yet the m15x struggles to get a consistent 30-40fps on HIGH settings (and that's even oc'd to 5870 clocks), even at the 900p native rez. The components in my desktop aren't anything to shake a stick at...e8400 core 2 processor and a single gtx 260.

Maybe it's poor optimization on blizzards part, but I doubt it. I haven't experienced the "cutscene slowdown" epidemic that people have been flaming about on the forums, usually a constant 60fps, with a few dips here and there. The "enhanced" in-game engine cutscenes actually perform MUCH better for me than the gameplay...which is odd.

Looks like I'll be building a frag-box to take to lan parties...as I can't even imagine trying to play 4v4 multiplayer on the m15x...I'd likely have to lower the resolution or settings to at least medium..../sigh

 

^^ That's very disappointing, I was planning on getting it, but may reconsider it now....

 

So pooor? Dude take a goddamn look at your freakin computer and say that again!
ANyways SCII is so addictive I usually don't care about the story mode, but I just cant stop

I don't know what you guy are talking about, mine runs so smoothly and I don't have high-end specs!

 

What are your settings, and FPS?

 

Wooooo looks like i started SCII fever on this thread

Right after i beat the campaign, i'm going to go buy myself a copy of this game. Its just awesome

 

I'm on ultra, native resolution, I get a mere 30 FPS when my card is barely overclocked (about 10%) but you know, the human eye is blindfolded after 18fps sooo, it looks great!

 

Gotcha. Sitting on basically 22% off for a m15x, just since I game so infrequently on PC (that could change) it would be important the few games I did want could be ran well (mostly SC2, and Diablo 3 down the line).

 

That's another thing I should have mentioned...what may be considered "smooth" gameplay to one person, my be "choppy" to another. It really all depends on preference when you reach FPS above the 24fps standard film rate.

For me, I'm very happy to have a portable computer that can run most anything maxed, just a little disappointed with one specific game so far.

Otherwise, I recommend this laptop to any serious gamer looking for a semi-portable solution.

 

I can vividly recall playing SC1 in some awful framerates, only to go back later and find out how much more enjoyable it was at higher framerates once the technology surpassed it all. That being said, I guess I need to see a video or something.

 

I max it out on ultra at 1920x1080 with 50-60fps. When there a big battle it lower to 30fps. It's a desktop replacement .

What is the game that you did not maxed out with?

 

I'm gonna test it this weekend, and see how it runs before I choose to buy it.

 

I don't know what planet you guys on worrying about the frames for this game... but i have a m15x with a 5870m, and i'm getting the same frames as Dttran83... the m15x slices through this game like a hot knife through butter, even with every single setting maxed out.

I don't know why you guys are worrying about it..

and as soccerthierry said it with 260m its performing very well also (mostly because of physx suport, since this game likes physics)

CONCLUSION: Don't sweat it. You won't be disappointed.

 

Thanks Jstarnino. The planet I'm living on is, "I research things till I'm blue in the face and haven't bought any pc since I won my last Alienware in a sweepstakes".

In other words, it's time to pony up for a new rig - and I was toying with the idea of the M11x only because it's so portable... but something in me says, I should spend a couple hundred more to have something that will last me a bit longer.

Pulling the trigger tomorrow for a M15x seems inevitable seeing as the discounts still undercut a NP8690 by a couple hundred, with only real difference being the 5850 vs the 5870 and maybe a little more HD space... oh and a carrier bag.

 

The game is certainly more than playable at the 900p res, with ultra settings...just not very consistent. Certain missions and multiplayer it can chug down to below 30fps. Maybe you guys are seeing better, more consistent numbers because of your processor speeds? I have the 720qm, at stock speeds, and my 5850 is clocked at 750/1050, just slightly above the 5870 stocks.

Here's an idea...just to clarify and see if there really are some differences...maybe we can try to run the same mission or scenario?

One specific instance where I noticed the FPS inconsistencies was during the campaign mission "Outbreak". It's the 2nd mission from the Doctor, and 5th overall...depending on which path you take. During the daytime I get 45-60 fps, smooth as butter...but once nighttime hits, the fps around my base-camp and outlying areas slows to around 30...dropping into mid 20s regularly.

For those that are interested, try this scenario out and report back your FPS ratings during the day/night cycles. (if there's enough interest I can just start a separate thread?)

And just for the record, my settings are maxed at ultra, 1600x900 rez, v-sync enabled.

 

^^ Thanks for that Ben, I don't know if I will get to that mission over the weekend, but will test it out with my specs. I don't have anything overclocked, so it should be a good basis for how the game will run at stock.

 

turns out my GPU burned out. they replaced my motherboard but didnt work, so replaced my GPU the next day. came with 197xx drivers.

damn tho, can't play starcraft 2 keeps crashing on main screen, with pixels coming out of the login before the entire computer crashes. No blue screen or anything, just hung. anyone having the same issues?

 

update direct X from microsoft

 

just returned the new mouse, it was great. i loved the precision aim button really nice. but something up with the driver. if i install the mouse driver the touchpad will not work for some reason, dang it was a really good mouse.

 

Yea i'm right with you on the "I research things till I'm blue in the face" planet. Its nice on here with sunny skies, a few cloudy breaks, and a low chance of getting screwed over

The m15x with a 5850m is the way to go.... You'll play games very nicely and is a much more capable machine than the m11x thats forsure... though the m11x sure does look like a little beast itself .

And about SCII, with everything maxed vsync on mouse smoothening on, @ 1080p...

Zoomed in i get about 60fps

zoomed out i get about 40fps.

Pretty crazy drop. But i figure this is because theres more on the screen. Really busy scenarios need muscle to keep 'em fluent... but i wouldn't worry untill you're getting frames below 20fps. Especially for this type of game, you won't notice lower frames as much as you would playing a first person shooter.


Just close Fraps, and the frames won't matter to you anymore. You'll see that gameplay is smooth, and you won't be so fixated on that stupid little number in the top corner of you're screen. Untill it becomes laggy and unplayable, It means your fps are just fine

 

Can anyone tell me why under GPU-z, Hwinfo32 and AMD clock tools my GPU clocks show up as 100/150? Stealth mode is off and I've tried the battery drain trick

 

Those are the stock clocks while idle on the 5850. Just bump them up to 750/1050 whith amd gpu tool if you think you need more umph. Or, just flash it with 5870 clocks and voltages.

 

Thanks. I was just curious. I plan on getting to 700/1000 eventually

 

100/150 are the 2d clocks the 5850/5870 uses when you're not doing anything that require 3d acceleration (like being at the desktop)

Fire up a game and you'll see your clocks change to 625/1000 for the 5850m and 700/1000 for the 5870m. You don't have to flash your card or OC it just to reach stock clocks... it does it automatically when you launch a game... well it should.. and if it doesn't then that is another problem all together, which does happen actually. So what do you mean exactly?

 

wow sc2 is addicting. i don't think i'm good enough for online battles yet, but pretty fun to play, thanks for the recommendation guys.

 

LoL guys, I'm gonna have to check out sc2 even tho strategy games do my head in I did enjoy the campaigns in Warcraft 3...

 

Flashing the vbios to 5870 clocks

 

Told ya so... they just got alot of things right with this game. I haven't finished the campaign yet, but when i do, i see we have a noobie showdown Inap . So we won't get pwned too badly loll. I rather come close and lose to you than get steamrolled by some UBER SCII fanatic that has been playing the beta for 6 months 24\7 and can tell you how much life/damage/armor every single unit in the game has right off the bat.. LOLLL

I usually don't play strategy games.. but let me tell you.. this aint like all of them you've played. You have to give this game a shot. Don't know anyone who hasn't enjoyed playing it yet.

 

multiplayer wont be a prob for you guys. they use a ladder system so first timers play first timers and pros play pros. people that have never played a rts have a 50/50 win loss ratio if not better. i cant wait to get my grubby paws on it.

 

yeah this is my first strategy game also, i'll get powned for sure,lol. never thought i would like these games, but i do. but have a feeling i will get tried of it soon, to much thinking. i rather just run and gun. hehehehehe


smeggit let me know if you wanna try it out. the game came with 2 guess passes, more than happy to gave you one.

 

ooh, Im considering this game. My last strategy game was warcraft 3

 

I haven't ever liked strategy games but, I've heard so much hype about this from everyone I might fall prey to trying it out. I just keep telling myself that it really isn't that good but everyone I talk to says things that make me second guess. I mean, what kinda Alienware owner would I be if I didn't have the game everyone says is the best right now, lol. Of course I am still ashamed of myself for being one of the only two people in the world that hasn't tried TF2.

 

Dude... it's Starcraft... I mean it's Blizzard's Bread to Warcraft's butter...

 

i still have 1 guess pass left. let me know if you want it.

sc2 is a good game but not everyone would be into it, maybe in a week or two i will be bored of getting powned. hahhaha

tf2 is awesome, one of the funny fps out there, there is some team work involved with it thats why its so fun. it the game i keep coming back to if your an online fps fan, it definitely worth a try.

 

TF2 was my next purchase. I'm sure by now everyone is so advanced at it I'll get kicked more than a few times for being a noob this late in the game. I had it in a an old steam account but can't get access to it anymore so I've been putting off getting it again till steam has another sale.

 

What kind of temps are expected with a 5850? I'm getting a 95 degree max with Furmark and that seems a bit high.

 

furmark will push the temps higher than any game will, just monitor your temps after an hour or 2 gaming, that it more realistic. but 95 is a bit high but i'm sure its gaving you the vram temp, next time use gpu-z to monitor all 3 temp zones.

 

geez just got murdered on my first online game of sc2.

 

Hey inap, thanks for the offer tho I'll probably stick to the single player missions. I've got a "trial" version *cough* downloading, will buy it if I find I play it much

I'm actually playing Fallout 3 again, I prepurchaced New Vegas but I've never gotten round to doing the DLC in the Fallout 3 GOTY edition.

 

Tried SC2, works fine on High settings, avg about low to mid 40s with some drops to high 30s. Ultra was fine as well, but since I wasn't noticing a difference b/w Ultra and High, I just kept to High settings. Don't know if I'll actually purchase it, since I have a long way to go before I get any good in the game. I feel handicapped in skill since I never really played SC1 much.

On another note, I've finished Mass Effect 2, which was a great game. On to Dragon Age: Origins. DA tends to push the GPU pretty hard, I'm noticing....

 

Congrats on the laptop glad to see you are flashing. i have mine set at

200/300 @ .9v
750/1050 @ 1.15

Also sometimes my 2d clocks would not ramp up to 3d clocks and i set it manually in AMD tool and my FPS jumped up quick and make sure stealth is off. You can find a nice system tray indicator since the light is hard to see.

 

Ah, it feels good having internet back. Vacation is great but there's truly no place like home!

 

Well sorry for my absense! I've been getting back into the swing of SC2... Beat the campaign on hard with a bunch of achieves and forayed back into the online component. I wrecked people up during the BETA and plan on doin the same now... gotta love void rays

My SSD should be here Monday. Pretty stoked!